Automated guided vehicles with a mounted serial manipulator: A systematic literature review.

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) have become a vital part of the automation sector and a key component of a new industrial revolution that promises to: i. automate the entire manufacturing process, ii. increase productivity rates, iii. develop safer workplaces, while iv. maximising profits and reducing running costs for businesses. However, several concerns arise in the face of this very promising revolution. A major issue is how to ensure that AGVs function effectively and safely during interactions with humans. Another one concerns the ethical desirability of pervasive, continuous, and multidimensional couplings (or interactions) between humans and robots. Generally speaking, automated systems, in virtue of their vast sensing capabilities, may pose privacy challenges to their users. This is because such systems can seamlessly gather information about people' behaviors, without people's consent or awareness. To tackle the important issues abovementioned, we performed a systematic literature review [SLR] on AGVs with mounted serial manipulators. We used as an input 282 papers published in the relevant scientific literature. We analysed these papers and selected 50 papers based on certain criteria to find out trends, algorithms, performance metrics used, as well as potential ethical concerns raised by the deployment of AGVs in the industry. Our findings suggest that corporations can effectively rely on AGVs with mounted manipulators as an efficient and safe solution to production challenges.

Acute type A aortic dissection at seven weeks of gestation in a Marfan patient: case report.

A 34-year-old Marfan patient at the seventh week of pregnancy presented with acute type A aortic dissection and severe aortic regurgitation. The aortic valve and ascending aorta were replaced successfully using circulatory arrest and deep hypothermia. At 35 weeks of gestation, the patient underwent a cesarean section and delivered a healthy baby. To our knowledge, this case is the first to report a favorable fetal outcome following surgical repair of acute dissection in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Off-pump coronary bypass surgery for left main coronary artery stenosis 10 years after heart transplantation: case report.

A patient with asymptomatic left main coronary artery stenosis 10 years after heart transplantation was treated successfully with off-pump coronary bypass surgery using both mammary arteries. New advances in bypass surgery may decrease the risk of revascularization in cardiac transplant recipients.

Recurrent pleural effusion complicating liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Pleural effusion (PE) is a rare complication of advanced liver cirrhosis, which may lead to an operation when uncontrolled. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the modality of the occurrence of pleural effusion and to describe its surgical management. METHODS: We studied 21 patients who were referred to the department of thoracic surgery because of massive and recurrent PE caused by liver cirrhosis. The PE was a transudate in 16 patients and an exudate in 5. Talc pleurodesis was attempted in all patients. The patients were divided into two groups. Video assisted thoracoscopy was performed in 13 patients in whom the clinical condition permitted general anesthesia; the pleural cavity was entirely explored before pleurodesis (group 1). Chest tube drainage alone was performed in 8 patients who were unable to undergo general anesthesia; talc pleurodesis was performed through the chest tube in these patients (group 2). RESULTS: In group 1 the PE was right-sided in 8 patients, left-sided in 3, and bilateral in 2. Diaphragmatic defects were observed in 2 patients, and a fluid leak oozing from the diaphragm was observed in 1 patient. Ten patients were considered cured and were without recurrence. Two patients underwent late recurrence before dying from their liver cirrhosis. Only 1 patient had an early recurrence that was cured by complementary talc slurry. In group 2 all patients presented with a right PE; of these, 3 patients died from septic shock caused by pleural infection. Three patients underwent early recurrence but were cured after repeat talc slurry. One patient had a midterm recurrence. One patient had an early recurrence treated by intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt with partial improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Passage of ascites through diaphragmatic defects appears to be the main cause of PE complicating cirrhosis. Patients may benefit from talc pleurodesis. Video assisted thoracoscopy pleurodesis is the technique of choice with consistent results. Repeated talc injection through the drain may prove useful for patients in poor clinical status.

An unusual presentation of solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura: right atrium and inferior vena cava compression.

Solitary fibrous tumours of the pleura are rare and usually present with unpredictable clinical signs. We report a 58-year-old patient presenting with signs of cardiac decompensation and external compression of the right atrium and inferior vena cava by a voluminous solitary fibrous tumour arising from the diaphragmatic pleura. Marked clinical improvement was obtained after excision of the mass with complete disappearance of the cardiac signs.

Simultaneous bronchopleural and esophagopleural fistulas after pneumonectomy.

The simultaneous occurrence of bronchopleural fistula (BPF) and esophagopleural fistula (EPF) after pneumonectomy is very rare. We describe a 60-year-old man who developed empyema associated with bronchopleural fistula as a complication of a right pneumonectomy. Initial chest tube drainage and antibiotic therapy were ineffective. Five months later ingested food particles appeared in the drainage fluid. Esophagoscopy revealed an esophageal fistula of 10 mm in diameter. After nutritional support by feeding jejunostomy both BPF and EPF were repaired by subscapular muscle myoplasty and extensive thoracoplasty through a right thoracotomy. Endoscopic examination performed 1 month after surgery showed complete closure of both fistulas and 9 months after surgery the patient was eating and gaining weight. The patient's death was due to aspiration pneumonia of another origin.